Book summary

Originally published in 1900 as THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, and later under the title THE WIZARD OF OZ, L. Frank Baum’s imaginative American fairy tale/fantasy has been a perennial favorite for over a century. Though there is academic debate about 1890s political references in the text, the adventures of Dorothy Gale and the creatures she meets are infinitely more entrancing to readers. This first volume in the 14-book Wizard of Oz series opens with a transformative tornado that hits Dorothy’s small Kansas town and transports the girl and her pup, Toto, to the magical Land of Oz. Seeking a way back home, Dorothy sets out in search of the Wizard of Oz, who she hopes will be able to help. As she travels, Dorothy is joined by an intellect-hungry Scarecrow, a forlorn Tin Woodman, and a deeply funny Cowardly Lion. But one of the most famous children’s literary villains of all time, the Wicked Witch of the West, threatens to keep the foursome from their goal. The traditional edition is accompanied by W.W. Denslow’s incredible illustrations, but many artists have re-illustrated this American masterpiece.